New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on Thursday agreed on the potential for defence equipment co-development and co-production in India. The Italian PM praised PM Modi and referred to him as the “most loved” among all world leaders.
The two Prime Ministers welcomed the steady deepening of defence cooperation between the two countries in the last two years, underscoring the need to further enhance mutual engagement in this field through the conclusion of an MOU on defence cooperation.
On her first official visit to India, Prime Minister Meloni met Narendra Modi on Thursday. She also met President Droupadi Murmu in the afternoon.
The two leaders held talks in a cordial atmosphere and exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. They acknowledged that the visit of Prime Minister Meloni is taking place at a significant time, as the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, according to a joint India-Italy statement.
Both leaders underscored their firm commitment to democracy, freedom, human rights, and rule of law as key values in promoting peace, stability and development.
They welcomed the high degree of convergence in the political, economic, and strategic interests of the two countries that provides an enduring basis for a long-term relationship.
“PM Modi is non-stop topping the approval rating all around the globe. He is the most loved one of all leaders around the world. This is really proven that he has been a major leader and Congratulations for that”, said Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.
Recalling their earlier meeting in Bali on the margins of the G20 Summit in Indonesia, they reaffirmed their commitment to further consolidate and strengthen the bilateral relationship between India and Italy in the years ahead. The Action Plan 2020-24 set an ambitious agenda for an enhanced Partnership with Italy, to whose full implementation both countries remain committed.
The two leaders appreciated the strong bilateral economic engagement and expressed their intention to further advance cooperation, including in the framework of the respective Make in India and Made in Italy frameworks, according to the statement.
The two PMs underscored the importance of intensifying their cooperation, in particular in technology, space, energy security and transition, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, food processing, education, and research and development. In this context, they also highlighted the positive impacts expected from the new MoU on industrial property rights.
The talks were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, and both leaders expressed their confidence in the ample scope for the further development of bilateral relations and of the multifaceted cooperation across sectors, according to the statement.
ANI